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Further information for international professionals

Would you like to live and work in the Stuttgart Region?

On this page you can find all the relevant information you need as an international specialist for your arrival and your new life in the Stuttgart Region.

German courses

If you want to live and work in the Stuttgart Region, you should learn German as quickly as possible. This helps you to get to know new people, communicate in everyday life or find work.

You often also need proof of certain German language skills – for example, to apply for a visa, for recognition of your foreign qualifications, for training or studies.

We will show you what options are available.

©Robert Kneschke – Fotolia

Learn German abroad

At these institutes, you can take a certified language course that is officially recognized by the Federal Republic of Germany:

  • Goethe-Institut
    You can find a Goethe-Institut near you here.
  • Telc-certified institutes
    You can find a telc examination center near you here.
  • Austrian language certificate WEG
    Examinations for the Austrian language certificate OSD are internationally recognized and are offered at levels A1-C2.

German courses in Germany and in the Stuttgart Region

In Germany, for example, you can learn German at the Goethe-Institut.

In the Stuttgart Region, you can learn German at adult education centers (VHS = Volkshochschule), for example.
There is a VHS in many municipalities in the Stuttgart Region. You can find VHS locations near your home and information on the language courses on the website of the adult education centers.

Search the language course database of the state capital Stuttgart for suitable German, integration and vocational language courses offered by the federal government and the state capital Stuttgart in your district.

Free online learning opportunities

Online language lessons

State-subsidized German courses: Integration courses

In an integration course you can learn German from A1 to B1. You will learn about German history and important everyday topics.

Integration courses are funded by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) and consist of 2 parts: The language course comprises 600 hours and the subsequent orientation course 100 hours. The courses are offered full-time and part-time.

You can find detailed information on the conditions of participation on the website of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). On the BAMF website you will also find a database of all integration courses in Germany.

For Stuttgart, you can search the language course database of the state capital Stuttgart , which contains all German and integration courses in Stuttgart.

We will be happy to advise you on this topic at the Welcome Center.

German for the job

Would you like to live in Germany, improve your German language skills and gain further qualifications for the training or job market? Then attend a job-related German course, which is also funded by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).

People who are registered as jobseekers or unemployed and are permanently resident in Germany, asylum seekers with good prospects of staying, but also employees and trainees who need language support are primarily eligible to participate.

The vocational language courses teach German language skills for the workplace. They can be attended following an integration course. The courses lead up to levels B2, C1 and C2.

This multilingual flyer from the BAMF provides you with information about the vocational language courses. Further information is available from the Welcome Center Stuttgart.

New offer: Job-BSK
The aim is to learn German on the job. The Job-BSK are an additional offer that the federal government launched in 2024 with the Job-Turbo.
Prerequisites: A2 level achieved and employed or about to be employed.

German for children and young people

There are German courses for the special interests and language skills of children and young people. You can find more information here.

read more

Tips!

Libraries: Visit a local public library. The libraries offer computers and free computer German courses as well as books for German as a foreign language.

Search for a tandem: Learning a language “in tandem” means that two people with different mother tongues are interested in learning the other language. For example, you could ask a colleague at work if she would like to be your tandem partner.

You can look for a tandem partner by posting a notice – e.g. at institutions that offer German courses and other languages, at schools, kindergartens or online:
mylanguageexchange.com
tandem.net/en

Language cafés: Meet regularly in a group to learn German and get to know people. You can find an overview of the language cafés in Stuttgart here.

Arriving in Germany

Visa application and residence permit

Your visa application is the first important step towards living and working in Germany and the Stuttgart Region. You can easily find out whether or not you need a visa to enter Germany with the quick check on the official online portal “Make it in Germany”. As an EU citizen, you do not need a visa or residence permit to enter or work in Germany. The same applies if you come from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

Tip! Make sure that you enter the country with a visa that corresponds to the actual purpose of your stay. Only then will it be possible to extend or transfer your visa smoothly. To extend or change your visa, you must contact the local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) responsible for your place of residence in Germany.

With the current changes to skilled worker immigration, it is now easier to change your residence status (e.g. from a language course visa or job-seeker visa or opportunity card) to a residence status for employment/blue card/training.

We will be happy to advise you on this topic at the Welcome Center.

Work permit

The Stuttgart Region offers you interesting and sustainable career opportunities. You need a work permit to get started.

As an EU citizen, you have unrestricted access to the German labor market. If you are a citizen of another country, the regulation on work permits depends on your country of origin and qualifications and is issued with the visa or residence permit.

Residence permit

If you come from a third country – i.e. not from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland – you will need a valid residence permit to live and work in Germany.

In addition to the visa for entry for long-term residence in Germany, there are various residence permits for work, study or training.

Further information can be found on the Make it in Germany online portal.

The residence permit can only be issued by the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) after you have entered the country with a national visa. Please contact the local immigration office at your place of residence in good time before your visa expires.

Tip! Do you have any questions? We will be happy to help you with questions about residence or how to contact the Foreigners’ Registration Office.

Registration in Germany

If you live in Germany, you must register in person at the Residents’ Registration Office or Citizens’ Registration Office at your new place of residence within two weeks of moving in. You will need a valid identity card or passport and confirmation from your landlord/landlady. If you live in a rented apartment, you will often have to give the name of the landlord/landlady or show the rental contract. You will receive a confirmation of registration. This paper shows how long you have been living in Germany.

Tip! In some municipalities, the residents’ registration office is also called the citizens’ registration office. In smaller municipalities, you register at the town hall. In larger cities, there are citizens’ offices in every district.

Tax identification number

When registering at the Citizens’ Registration Office, people who register their residence in Germany for the first time automatically receive their tax identification number from the Federal Central Tax Office. You will receive the number by post. You can find out more about the tax identification number under “Taxes”.

Recognition of foreign qualifications

Would you like to work in your profession in Germany?

Who needs recognition and how does the recognition procedure for foreign professional qualifications work? The Federal Government’s Recognition in Germany information portal provides a clear overview.

In the Recognition Finder you can find out whether and how you can have your qualification recognized.

anabin is a database for the evaluation of foreign educational certificates (i.e. foreign school-leaving qualifications and university and college degrees).

Professional recognition is not required for many academic degrees (Bachelor’s, Master’s). In the visa procedure, it is also sufficient for non-regulated professions that the university degree is listed as equivalent (H+) in the anabin database. Recognition is required for regulated professions (e.g. doctor). Further information can be found at make-it-in-germany.com.

In the Stuttgart region, the AWO Stuttgart can advise you:
Beratungszentrum zur Anerkennung ausländischer Berufsqualifikationen
Olgastr. 63
70182 Stuttgart
Telefon: +49 711-21061-17
E-Mail: anerkennung@awo-stuttgart.de

Tips for recognition

  • Apply for your certificate of equivalence or your certificate evaluation yourself at the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB), further information can be found here.
  • Interpreter and translator database: Search database for officially sworn translators throughout Germany
  • IQ Network: Recognition and qualification advice
  • Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart: Recognition office for school qualifications

Job search in Germany

Are you looking for a job in the Stuttgart region?

The job market in the Stuttgart Region offers you many opportunities – especially in the key sectors of vehicle construction, mechanical engineering, information technology and the creative industries.

The business location is characterized by numerous technologically strong and efficient companies, where you can expect attractive jobs and development opportunities. This also includes numerous small and medium-sized companies.

Job search tips

Find a job via online job boards:

Companies usually publish their vacancies on their company homepages.

Electronic or printed job advertisements in (daily) newspapers are also important sources.

In our events (e.g. Successful Application in the Stuttgart region) we regularly inform you about the application process.

How do you get in touch with companies in the Stuttgart Region?

We regularly organize job fairs for foreign skilled workers and trainees in the Stuttgart region! Here you can get to know small and medium-sized companies from selected sectors and talk to them at their stands.

current events

Tips!

As a non-EU citizen, you should check which entry and residence regulations apply to you. The job search visa offers academics, for example, the opportunity to come to Germany for a year to look for work. You can find more information under “Visa”.

Take advantage of the services offered by the Welcome Service Region Stuttgart when starting your working life: from job application advice to job search events and job fairs.

Contact us for a consultation or come to the Welcome Center Stuttgart without an appointment!

Application in Germany

Application tips

Applications work differently in each country: As a rule, you apply in German in Germany. If the job offer is published in English, you can also submit your documents in English. A complete application usually includes a cover letter, CV and references. Please note the information and requirements listed in the job advertisement.

Information from the application to the interview can be found on the Make it in Germany welcome portal.

The europass CV helps you to present your qualifications, skills and competencies in a way that is understandable throughout Europe.

Tip! Also use social media for your applications, for example LinkedIn and Xing!

We help with your application

If you need guidance, the Welcome Service Region Stuttgart will be happy to help you: We will advise you on what is important when applying, how to find jobs and how a cover letter or CV should be structured.

Or take part in our event “Erfolgreich bewerben/Successful application” take part!

current events

Self-employment and start-up

Good advice on what to expect when setting up a business is just as important for business success as the brilliant idea itself.

Information and advice

Tip!

Citizens from third countries who have completed their studies in Germany can obtain a “residence permit to take up self-employment” or a “residence permit to start a business” from the Foreigners’ Registration Office if a start-up grant is available. The self-employed activity must be related to the qualifications acquired during your studies.

Dual Career Network Stuttgart Region for foreign professionals

Would you like to move to the Stuttgart Region because of your partner?

The Dual Career Service supports you in finding professional connections and developing your own career prospects.

Check the Dual Career Network website to see whether your partner’s new employer is already a member of the Dual Career Network. If so, you can take part in workshops as part of the dual career program where you can get to know regional companies, prepare and train for application situations and receive practical tips.

The offer is for people who have moved to the region within the last two years or are currently in the process of deciding to do so.

From Frankfurt to the Stuttgart region: Read how one couple managed to gain a foothold in the Stuttgart region with the Dual Career Service.

Would you like individual advice?

Then contact Dr. Kathrin Silber
Tel.: +49 711-22835-52
kathrin.silber@region-stuttgart.de

Training in Germany

Would you like to do an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship can be the perfect start to your career! With its numerous training companies in the trades, industry and commerce, the Stuttgart Region offers the best opportunities for starting and developing a career.

In Germany, you can learn a profession in a special way – with dual vocational training. Watch the explanatory video on Make it in Germany, the official portal of the Federal Government, and find 5 reasons for dual vocational training in Germany.

These organizations can advise you:

Tips on training

Find a training place via training exchanges:

Support at the Stuttgart training campus

The Stuttgart training campus helps young people with a refugee and/or migrant background to integrate.

The campus provides advice on finding an apprenticeship, helps with recognition procedures and applications and offers tutoring and lessons in various subjects such as German and math. There are also individual counseling sessions and group offers for psychological stress.

Taxes in Germany

You have found a job in the Stuttgart region and negotiated a gross salary. Then you may be surprised that the first salary you receive in your bank account is different from the agreed one. The explanation is quite simple:

In Germany, there is a gross wage, which is the amount stated in the employment contract. In real terms, you have the so-called net wage at your disposal. This is your gross salary minus taxes and social security contributions, which is credited to your bank account. With the help of your payslip, you can see how much you and your employer have paid in tax and social security contributions from your gross salary.

As an employee, you must submit your tax return to the local tax office every year.

Tax identification number

To be able to pay taxes on your gross salary in Germany, you need a tax identification number (IdNr). This is automatically applied for when you register at the Residents’ Registration Office or the Foreigners’ Registration Office at the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt). You can therefore not apply for your IdNr yourself. It can take up to three months before you receive your IdNr.

Income tax in Germany

The most important tax for employees in Germany is income tax. You pay this on all income in a calendar year. Of course, this also includes your salary (income from non-self-employed work). If you work for a company as an employee, you do not have to worry about income tax for the time being. Your employer will automatically deduct income tax in the form of wage tax from your gross salary each month and transfer it to the tax office on your behalf.

Further information on income tax can be found on Make it in Germany or from your local tax office.

Tips!

Here you will find tips on taxes and social security contributions:

Open a bank account

To live and work in Germany on a long-term basis, you need a bank account. Only with a bank account can you rent an apartment and only then can your employer transfer your salary to you.

To open an account with a bank in Germany, you need:

  • Your passport
  • the registration certificate for your place of residence
  • depending on the account type, a pay slip from your employer
  • with some banks: Your work permit

With these documents, you apply for a current account and an EC card at the bank of your choice. You can use the card and your PIN to withdraw money free of charge at your bank’s ATMs around the clock.

Further information can be found on Make it in Germany, the official portal of the Federal Government for skilled workers from abroad.

Living in Germany

Here you will find tips for your apartment search if you are moving to the Stuttgart region.

Short-term living

If you are looking for a temporary solution until you move into your own apartment, you may find suitable accommodation on the following websites:

Subsidized housing

Are you looking for an affordable apartment in Stuttgart? Then take a look at the funding opportunities offered by the state capital Stuttgart.

Apartment and house offers

You can find these on real estate exchanges on the Internet and in the service sections of newspapers; we have listed a selection here:

It is helpful to place your own ad so that the landlord can contact you directly. You can also hire an estate agent to find a rental apartment for a commission.

Further tips

Shared rooms: Shared room portals in comparison

Rental apartments: Housing Anywhere

The guidebook “Renting apartments: It’s not always easy for refugees” published by Verlag für Rechtsjournalismus offers practical tips on how to find an apartment as a refugee.

Family

Childcare in Germany

Are you looking for childcare near your home?

Search for a suitable daycare center (Kita) in the Kitafinder of the state capital Stuttgart and send a childcare request for your child to selected daycare centers.
You can find a complete overview for Baden-Württemberg on the website of the daycare centers in Baden-Württemberg.

Comprehensive information can also be found on the multilingual family portal of the Federal Ministry for Families, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.

Large companies often have their own company daycare center to look after their children. Your employer’s HR department can provide you with information on this. Universities also often have childcare facilities. Find out more on the website or from the student secretariat at your university.

School

In Germany, all children who are 6 years old by September 30 of a given year are required to attend school.

The vast majority of schools are public schools. Your children can therefore attend these schools free of charge. Private and international schools are also open to you. Fees are charged for these.

As the individual federal states are responsible for school policy in Germany, there are slightly different systems in the individual states.

Overviews:

Do you have school-age children who do not yet speak German?
Contact us – we will be happy to advise you on international schools in Stuttgart or on preparatory classes to learn German.

STÄRKE program for families

The STÄRKE state program supports parents in their parenting skills and helps to improve their children’s development opportunities.

For parents with a migration background, there are free offers such as courses and family camps, for example:

  • Offers in other languages (language cafés, Italian meetings for children, etc.)
  • get to know other parents (playgroups, baby café etc.)
  • Settling in at the new place of residence (breakfast for refugee and non-refugee women, etc.)
  • Organize leisure activities (parent-child singing, guided forest excursions, etc.)

Health

Like the rest of Germany, the Stuttgart region has a dense network of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries and pharmacies. Thanks to compulsory health insurance, the necessary treatments remain affordable for everyone.

Health insurance and benefits

As a resident of Germany, you must have health insurance. This can be done either via the employer, the employment agency or in person at the health insurance fund. You are free to choose your health insurance company. The health insurance list of the GKV-Spitzenverband or the ABC of health insurance companies will give you an initial orientation to the health insurance companies in Baden-Württemberg.

The basic insurance cover provided by the statutory health insurance funds includes the following benefits:

  • outpatient medical treatment, for example in doctors’ surgeries
  • Dental care
  • Medication and remedies and aids
  • Inpatient stays and treatments, for example in hospitals
  • Medically necessary rehabilitation measures
  • Services for pregnant women and during childbirth

Sometimes private co-payments are due, for example for prescriptions. Services that go beyond the basic insurance cover must be paid for privately.

If your spouse does not work, you can co-insure him/her in the statutory health insurance. The same applies to your children. This will not incur any additional costs for you.

Tip! When you take out health insurance, you are automatically insured for long-term care.

Health card

©Andreas Morlok / pixelio.de

As soon as you are a member of a statutory health insurance scheme, you will receive your electronic health card. The health card is valid in all EU countries as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Search for a doctor in Germany

In Germany, you have a free choice of doctor. Normally, your first port of call is your family doctor. You can find out where to find a general practitioner or specialist, for example:

  • on the website of your place of residence
  • via your health insurance company
  • via the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s White List
  • via the doctor search of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians of Baden Württemberg (KVBW)

If you need to see a doctor outside the opening hours of your family doctor, dial the nationwide number 116 117 for the medical on-call service.

In an acute emergency, i.e. a life-threatening situation, call the emergency number 112.

Mobility

Mobile by bus and train

Buses, streetcars, subway trains and trains are all part of local public transport in the Stuttgart region.

Information on bus, subway and S-Bahn lines in the Stuttgart region can be found on the website of the Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund Stuttgart (VVS) and Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG (SSB). If you use public transport regularly, it is worth buying a weekly, monthly, annual or Germany ticket. The Germany ticket for €49 per month is particularly worthwhile as it is valid for local transport throughout Germany.

For trips to other German cities, Deutsche Bahn is a good option. There are also buses that usually run between train stations in German and European cities. Use the bus route search to find the right bus connection.

Mobile by bike and car sharing

Are you interested in cycle paths, rental bikes or car sharing? Then take a look at what the state capital of Stuttgart has to offer:

Driving license, driving and professional driver

As a citizen of the EU, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland, your driving license is valid to the same extent as in your home country. This means that you can drive in Germany with your driving license without transferring it.

The driving license of citizens from other nations is valid for six months after registration. During this time, you must apply for the EU driving license in writing at the driving license office responsible for your place of residence. There you will also find out whether you still have to take exams or provide certain certificates.

If you would like to work as a bus or LKF driver, you will need an extra driver’s license and other documents. Further information on professional drivers can be found on the IHK website.

Vehicle registration

Before you are allowed to drive your car on German roads, you must register it at the vehicle registration office.

The vehicle registration office of the city of Stuttgart as well as further information on the subject of “cars and driving licenses” can be found on the website of the state capital Stuttgart.

Leisure and socializing

Discover the numerous attractive excursion destinations and the many cultural opportunities in the Stuttgart Region! On the joint Stuttgart Tourist website of the City and Region of Stuttgart or the website of the Stuttgart Region you will find many suggestions.

You can find a selection of suitable sports and exercise programs in your area here.

There are countless ways to meet new people in Stuttgart – through shared interests, events, apps or online platforms.

Clubs

Whether you want to volunteer, get to know people from your country of origin or play sport in your free time: Clubs are a great way to make new friends. The best way to find out about the clubs in your area is to visit the local authority’s website.

Forum der Kulturen Stuttgart e.V.
The Forum der Kulturen Stuttgart e.V. is an umbrella organization of more than 130 (post-)migrant organizations and intercultural institutions in Stuttgart and the surrounding area. The “IN MAGAZINE” of the Forum of Cultures offers you event tips and an insight into Stuttgart’s diverse cultural world.

Welthaus Stuttgart e.V.
Welthaus Stuttgart e.V. is an association of around 40 civil society groups: World stores, development policy initiatives, migrant organizations, environmental groups and cultural initiatives. Perhaps there is a suitable association for you here?

Subscribe to the social networks of Stuttgart’s migrant associations: Here you can find out the latest news about the numerous association activities!

Kunstvereine
Art associations such as the Kunstverein Fellbach or the Württembergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart regularly organize art and cultural events such as exhibitions and music events for members and non-members.

Language cafés

Language cafés – or Sprachtreffs or Begegnungscafés – are regular meetings to learn German and make contacts.

You can find an overview of language cafés in your area here.

Online platforms for getting to know people

There are also numerous online forums and groups for networking, which are often linked to real meetings in the region. Examples include

Offers for singles

The online platform stuttgartersingles.de brings singles together and organizes singles events such as hikes, barbecues or sports meetings.

Dating apps such as Bumble, Hinge and tinder are also widely used in Stuttgart. Bumble also has a “BFF” mode for finding new friends.

Offers for young people

Student Welcome Club
The Welcome Center Stuttgart organizes the Welcome Club for young people (previously mainly international students) in the Weltcafé on the first Monday of every month.

A Language Night, Quiz Night or Culture Night takes place alternately.

Club International Stuttgart
Young people between 18 and 27 can get to know people through the Club International Stuttgart of the Verein für internationale Jugendarbeit e. V. and organize excursions, workshops, information evenings and much more together – a theater group and a dance group also meet once a week.

Commu app for social engagement

The Commu app brings helpers and those in need together to build stronger communities and reduce loneliness. Individuals can ask for help or offer help; non-profit organizations can find new volunteers.

The most common forms of help are mutual support such as chatting/listening, help with everyday tasks or help for Ukrainians – whether you are looking for someone to talk to, a dog sitter for a vacation, someone to do sports with or someone to give food to.

Do you have any questions?

Contact us for a free consultation. We look forward to hearing from you and will be happy to help!
Or come to the Welcome Center Stuttgart!